Thursday, July 30, 2015

Party Pods

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper of lotus flower and seed pods having a party. I started this a couple of years ago and it never really clicked, so this week it got a makeover, a redo. Values were reestablished within lotus pads or lily pads, central white flower shading emphasized along with all shadows, and colors were enhanced with new hues on the market. The central seed pod was lifted out and repainted. I added additional tall slender grasses behind and left overall pale yellow background tint alone.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Artist's Statement

"Working from dark to light provides me with immediate gratification seeing value comparisons. Whether I'm painting architectural subjects, animals, floral or still life, I am always looking for the darks first. By establishing these values early, I'm better able to judge the values that follow.

Since creating art is a solitary pursuit, I become absorbed and as one with the painting. Initial excitement usually drives me headlong into a sketching mode with or without value studies. Primarily I work from photographs.

I paint because I have to paint; I want to show you what I see. Viewing my works will be a revelation of who I am.